Singapore Theemithi Festival
| Singapore Theemithi Festival | |
|---|---|
| Frequency | Annual |
| Venue | Sri Mariamman Temple |
| Country | Singapore |
| Years active | 1840–present |
| Participants | 4,000 (2025) |
| Attendance | 10,000+ (2025) |
| Leader | Venugopal Thirunavukarasu |
Singapore Theemithi Festival, also known as Theemithi Thiruvilla is a fire-walking Hindu festival conducted annually in Singapore. The begins in the Tamil month of Aadi (around July or August).[1] and ends in October/November and usually a week before Deepavali. The festival is dedicated to Draupadi, a heroine and prominent figure from the Mahabharata worshipped as a goddess. The festival is held at Sri Mariamman Temple in South Bridge Road.[2][3]
The festival has been occurring annually for more than 150 years with the first event held in 1840.[4]
Events
During the period of the festival, scenes from Mahabharata are enacted by the devotees and drama troupes. A week before the fire walking they perform prayers to Periyachi who is one of the most important deities of Mariamman’s entourage. The grand prayer session is held to request her blessings upon the devotees and that no unpleasant incidents should happen during the festival.[5]
Another key event is a symbolic grand marriage ceremony conducted between Arjuna and Draupadi. Following this is probably the most important ritual: a simulation of the sacrifice of Hijra, which was done before the Mahabharata war to ensure success to the Pandavas. The simulated ritual does not involve human sacrifice.
Afterwards, devotees offer their prayers like carrying milk pots, doing Kumbiduthandam (prostrating after every step) and Angapirathatchanam (rolling around the temple grounds). Goddess Mariamman is given a milk bath with the milk that the devotees brought as it is a belief that the sins of man will be washed away.
Two days before the festival, a silver chariot procession takes place to commemorate the Pandavas victory in battle. At this juncture, lord Krishna agreed to be Arjuna's charioteer. Marking this occasion, on the Friday and Saturday prior to Theemithi, a chariot procession takes place around the Telok Blangah and Bukit Merah districts.[6]
Global attraction
Over the years, many thousands of devotees from India, Sri Lanka and Malaysia attend the festival to perform their devotion to Draupadi. It has also became a tourist attraction event for many foreigners and tourist to attend the event.[7][8]
Notable attendees
There have been several notable attendees globally who have attended the theemithi festival held annually:
- Venugopal Thirunavukarasu, the chief priest of the Sri Mariamman Temple, who has been serving since 2019 and leads the procession and fire-walking.
- David Neo, politician, Acting Minister for Culture, Community and Youth, as well as Senior Minister of State for Education since 2025.
- V.M. Mahalingam, singer, a devotional singer from Tamil Nadu who performed over 100 devotional songs at the temple leading up to festival in 2025.[9]
- Edwin Tong, politician, Minister for Law.
Incidents
Some devotees suffer burn injuries on their feet.[10] However, studies have found that the prolonged suffering involved in this and similar rituals can result in feelings of euphoria for participants, an effect similar to the marathon "runners high".[11][12][13]
See also
References
- ^ "REPOST OF THE DAY: THEEMITHI FIREWALKING FESTIVAL". compassandcamera.wordpress.com.
- ^ "Photograph of a firewalking ceremony at Sri Mariamman Temple". www.roots.gov.sg.
- ^ "Slow and steady for Singapore's Hindu firewalkers". www.reuters.com.
- ^ "Firewalking at S'pore's oldest Indian temple is an unbroken tradition since 1840". www.straitstimes.com.
- ^ "Mahabharathathil Uruvaana thiruvizha," by Radha Kasiramu. Tamil Murasu, October 2005, pg 3.
- ^ "Morning fire walking this year". www.straitstimes.com.
- ^ "Singapore's Theemithi Fire-Walking Festival at Sri Mariamman Temple Now Draws Thousands of Devotees and Tourists". www.travelandtourworld.com.
- ^ "More than 3,000 Hindu devotees take part in biggest fire-walking festival in S'pore since Covid-19". www.straitstimes.com.
- ^ "Singer Performs Over 100 Songs Before Theemithi". www.tabla.com.sg.
- ^ Sayampanathan SR, Ngim RC, Foo CL (April 1997). "Fire walking in Singapore: a profile of the burn patient". J R Coll Surg Edinb. 42 (2): 131–4. PMID 9114688.
- ^ Fischer, R., D. Xygalatas, P. Mitkidis, P. Reddish, I. Konvalinka & J. Bulbulia (2014). The fire-walker’s high: Affect and physiological responses in an extreme collective ritual. PLOS ONE 9(2): e88355
- ^ "Devotee in stable condition after falling into fire pit while fulfilling vows: HEB and temple". www.straitstimes.com.
- ^ "Devotee falls into fire pit at Sri Mariamman Temple in Chinatown". mothership.sg.